Polls Divided on Fracking

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has again put off the decision on whether to lift the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, in New York. The famously cautious Cuomo has to weigh public opinion that is split down the middle. A Siena College poll found that Forty-five percent support and 42 percent oppose fracking in the Southern Tier.

A continent away in Poland, there is no fractured opinion about fracking. The Polish people are energized that shale gas development could liberate them from dependence on Russia’s natural gas.

Ever since the U.S. Department of Energy’s April 2011 announcement that Poland may hold enormous quantities of shale gas -- 5.3 trillion cubic meters, enough for 300 years of consumption -- hydrocarbon fever has swept the country. Even when the Polish Geological Institute and the U.S. Geological Survey reduced those figures by 90 percent in early 2012, the faith in shale remained unshaken. Nowhere else in Europe has shale gas generated so much enthusiasm among both politicians and the public. The government has already granted 111 exploration concessions on an area of 35,000 square miles, or about a third of the territory of Poland, while polls from last year suggest that 73 percent of the country’s nearly 40 million people back developing shale.

Kenarov recently spoke at the University of Pennsylvania. The discussion was hosted by the Wharton Energy Club. He said the European Union is split on hydraulic fracturing. Poland is at the epicenter of the “polarized debate.” Poland may “make or break the case for Europe.” Indeed, “all eyes are on Poland as it develops its shale gas industry.”

Kenarov observed that shale gas is a game-changer. It is a “complicated topic with a lot of players.” There are far-reaching geological, economic, environmental and geopolitical implications.

Currently, Poland does not have any commercial production of shale gas. Instead, development is at the exploratory stage. Kenarov noted that in contrast to the U.S., landowners do not own mineral rights so they would not receive royalties. Still, the Polish people support diversity of energy supply and independence from Russia.

The United States shares their high hopes. The State Department’s Unconventional Gas Technical Engagement Program provides assistance to help Poland assess its shale gas resources. Our shared interest in natural gas and energy security was highlighted during President Obama’s visit to Warsaw in May 2011.

Today, no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy. After years of talking about it, we’re finally poised to control our own energy future. We produce more oil at home than we have in 15 years. We have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas, and the amount of renewable energy we generate from sources like wind and solar — with tens of thousands of good American jobs to show for it. We produce more natural gas than ever before — and nearly everyone’s energy bill is lower because of it. And over the last four years, our emissions of the dangerous carbon pollution that threatens our planet have actually fallen.

Meanwhile, the debate over fracking rages in New York. It remains an unanswered question whether the Empire State will get in the game.

I am the founder of Tracking Change, an online platform to promote data-driven models of policymaking. I focus on the intersection of technology, civic engagement, and economic and political empowerment.

I am a public policy consultant, social media content creator and curator, and civic innovator. I am project manager for the Cost of Freedom Voter ID App and Yo! Philly Votes.

Producing and using natural gas is the best solution for base power, in conjunction with solar, wind, geothermal etc. There is plenty of natural gas all around the world, and it can be accessed with new and future technology. http://www.worldwatch.org/syThe main concern for environmentalists worldwide should be to cut the use of coal, especially in antiquated plants. Here are the top ten coal burners: http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/what-are-the-top-10-coal-burning-countries-on-the-planet-whos-1.html

It is possible for the whole world to drastically cut coal burning and benefit the health of all. Coal pollution travels around the world. http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html

Natural gas is the future of energy. It is replacing dirty old coal plants, and dangerous expensive nuclear plants. It will fuel cars, trucks, vans, buses, locomotives, aircraft, ships, tractors, air conditioners, engines of all kinds. It costs far less. It will help keep us out of more useless wars, where we shed our blood and money. It is used to make many products. It will bring jobs and boost our economy. It lowers CO2 emissions, and pollution. Over 4,900 natural gas story links on my free blog. An annotated and illustrated bibliography of live links, updated daily. The worldwide picture of natural gas. Read in 74 nations. ronwagnersrants . blogspot . com

It appears you know a lot about fracking. Yet you choose to avoid mentioning anything about the proven pollution associtated with the chemicals used to frack the shale and the huge amounts of water required by the fracking process. It'd be great if shale gas were a clean source of energy, but it currently is not. Thoughts?